North Files To Enter Va. Race For Senate

September 22, 1993|By The Washington Post

After months of acting like a candidate but refusing to call himself one, Oliver L. North has made it official: He has filed papers declaring himself a contender for the U.S. Senate in Virginia next year.

Without making a public announcement, North filed documents with the Federal Election Commission stating that he is a candidate and establishing a campaign committee. The Iran-Contra figure has been stumping the state relentlessly since last year and has endorsed an effort to draft him into the race, but until now had said only that he was considering a run.

An aide said Tuesday that North does not plan to formally announce his intentions until after November's gubernatorial election and that North is ``looking into'' the Senate race. But chief of staff Mark Merritt acknowledged that North's campaign is so far along that he felt obligated to legally declare himself a candidate.

``In order to comply with any law that might apply, we have filed a statement of organization,'' Merritt said. ``The fund-raising effort of our exploratory committee has gone much better than expected, and we wanted to make sure that money is accounted for.''

Merritt declined to say Tuesday how much money has been raised by the Draft Oliver North for the U.S. Senate Committee, but North has signed several letters soliciting money for it. By converting the draft effort to a campaign committee, North obligates the group to fully disclose its finances in January.

The only other Republican to declare himself a Senate candidate so far is James C. Miller, budget director in the Reagan administration. Former federal prosecutor Jay B. Stephens also is considering entering the race, but unlike the other two, has not raised any money or hired a campaign staff.

Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb has begun raising money for his re-election effort and Gov. Doug Wilder, Robb's bitter rival, has said he will run.

Political analysts said Tuesday that North's filing confirms what has been obvious for months. They also agreed that North begins as the clear favorite to win the GOP nomination. Earlier this month, in a move spearheaded by North supporters, the Virginia Republican Party decided to choose its Senate candidate in party caucuses rather than a primary election.